With Two Final Permits, Cape Wind Cleared For Development

WOOD'S HOLE — Cape Wind is good to go: Project developers are cleared to begin installing the 130 turbines that will generate electricity off the shore of Cape Cod.

That's because the project received its final government approval on Friday after a decade of review. Last week saw the project awarded with two federal permits -- one from the Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday, an air quality approval permit from the EPA on Friday.

So far, Cape Wind only has a buyer for half of its project electricity output, and spokesperson Mark Rodgers says selling more of the project's electricity is now the top priority.

"A big part of the work we have to do now is selling more of our power, as well as the project finance. So those are the things we're going to be focussed on in the months ahead," Rodgers said.

Cape Wind will occupy about 24 square miles of Nantucket Sound, with the closest turbine being about five miles from the shores of Cape Cod. Developers expect to being constructing the wind farm by year's end.

Opponents, on the other hand, say Cape Wind is not a done deal, and they will continue to challenge its state and federal approvals in the courts.